Melrose 49 - 11 Boroughmuir: Craig Chalmers' delight at Melrose power show

The Melrose coach said: "That was a more controlled display," said Chalmers. "We scored some excellent tries and our defence was excellent. It will have given the boys a lot of confidence."

There was praise, too, from Boroughmuir coach Phil Smith. "Melrose were very good, but we are still targeting third place at the end of the season.

We played with plenty of commitment, but had nothing to show for it."

Smith paid a high compliment to Melrose full back, Fraser Thomson, scorer of two tries, bringing it to six for the season to add to his 16 last year.

"I do not know why he has not been offered a contract," he said.

Thomson said that he did not regret the move to Melrose from Gala. "I am enjoying my game here and always want to improve my skills."

It was also a special day for Melrose hooker, Wayne Mitchell, who scored his 85th try and broke Robbie Brown's club record for a forward.

"There is tough competition for places, but I will continue to fight for my place," he said.

Melrose scored four tries in each half and did not relent after the interval. The platform was laid by the forwards, in which John Dalziel and Grant Runciman were outstanding, while the threequarters were full of running.

Thomson and Callum Anderson combined for the opening tries and further scores by Dalziel and Mitchell made it 29-6 at the interval.

An interception try by Jamie Murray followed by scores from Garry Elder and a Runciman double added to Boroughmuir's pain, with Scott Wight kicking a first-minute penalty and three conversions. Ally Warnock kicked two first-half penalties and Greg Scott scored the Boroughmuir try with 20 minutes remaining - but the game was, by then, beyond recovery for the visitors.

Scorers: Melrose - Tries: Runciman (2), Thomson (2), Dalziel, W. Mitchell, Murray, Elder. Cons: Wight (3). Pen: Wight. Boroughmuir - Try: Scott. Pens, Warnock (2)..

Melrose: F Thomson; C Anderson, J Murray, E Ford, A Dodds; S Wight, R Chrystie; N Little, W Mitchell, G Holborn, G Elder, H Mitchell, J Dalziel, G Runciman, G Dodds. Subs: G Innes, N Beavon, R Miller, S McCormick, C Jackson.

Boroughmuir: S Ruddick; R Cairns, M Clapperton, H Leonard, J Webster; A Warnock, S Johnson; R Hislop, S Crombie, N Fraser, G Scott, A Davidson, A Rose, N Rodger, J Doubleday. Subs: G Jones, J Latta, D O'Riordan, R Samson, H Jones.

Referee: A Healy